Diverse Exercises Similarly Reduce Older Adults' Mobility Limitations

Little is known about the comparative effectiveness of exercise programs, especially when delivered at a high intensity, in mobility-limited older adults. We compared the effects of 25 sessions of high-intensity agility exergaming (EXE) and stationary cycling (CYC) at the same cardiovascular load on measured and perceived mobility limitations, balance, and health-related quality of life in mobility-limited older adults.

Randomized to EXE (n = 28) and CYC (n = 27), mobility-impaired older adults (age 70 yr) exercised five times per week for 5 wk at 80% of age-predicted maximal heart rate. Waitlisted controls did not exercise (n = 28).

Groups did not differ at baseline in any outcomes (P > 0.05). The primary outcomes (The Short Form-36-Health Survey: EXE, 6.9%; effect size, 2.2; CYC, 5.5%, 1.94; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index: EXE, -27.2%, -3.83; CYC, -17.2, -2.90) improved similarly (P > 0.05). Secondary outcomes, including body mass (-3.7%), depression (-18%), and walking capacity (13.5%) also improved (P < 0.05) similarly after the two interventions. Activities of daily living, Berg Balance Score, BestTest scores, and Dynamic Gait Index improved more (P < 0.05) after EXE than CYC. Center of pressure of standing sway path improved in one of six tests only after EXE (P < 0.05). Postexercise cardiovascular response improved in EXE (P = 0.019). CON did not change in any outcomes (P > 0.05).

When matched for cardiovascular and perceived effort, two diverse high-intensity exercise programs improved health-related quality of life, perceived mobility limitation, and walking capacity similarly and balance outcomes more in mobility-limited older adults, expanding these older adults' evidence-based exercise options to reduce mobility limitations.